FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT CHICAGO OPERA THEATER - PAGE 5

In an 11th-hour rescue worthy of the operatic stage, Chicago's No. 2 opera company was saved from being shut down during an emergency board meeting Saturday. The fate of Chicago Opera Theater, which has been an English-language alternative to Lyric Opera of Chicago for the past 17 years, was weighed by board members facing an accumulated debt of about $600,000. In a five-hour session starting Saturday morning, board members raised $308,500 in pledges to keep the company alive, including a $100,000 matching grant from longtime Chicago Opera Theater backers Irving and Joan Harris.

Lawrence Rapchak, former music director of Chicago Opera Theater, has been named music director of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, effective July 1. Rapchak succeeds Samuel Magad, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who has served as the orchestra's first and only music director since its inception in 1980. Magad remains active in the organization as music director emeritus. Rapchak is in his ninth season as a preconcert lecturer for the CSO.

Chicago House and Social Service Agency will benefit from the Chicago Opera Theater's performance of Rossini's "The Turk in Italy" at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday in the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport Ave. The performance, to be sung in English, will be followed by a reception in the Zum Deutschen Eck restaurant. Tickets are $20 for the opera only, $50 for opera and reception. Chicago House provides social services to AIDS patients. For benefit reservations, call 644-8585.

Joseph De Rugeriis was a versatile and experienced opera conductor, administrator, author and translator who served as general manager and executive producer of Chicago Opera Theater in 1993 during a period of severe fiscal crisis. Mr. De Rugeriis, 48, died of AIDS complications Jan. 23 while traveling in New York City. He was living in San Francisco at the time of his death. Mr. De Rugeriis, who was born in Philadelphia, made his conducting debut with Chicago Opera Theater in 1982, when he led performances of Mozart's "The Abduction from the Seraglio" to critical acclaim.

Avant-garde dancemaker Merce Cunningham and an all-female mariachi troupe are just a hint of the diverse offerings planned for the inaugural season at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater in Millennium Park. The new theater, formally dubbed the Music and Dance Theater and now nearing completion at 205 E. Randolph St., will open Nov. 8 with a gala that will include performances by a dozen founding members: Ballet Chicago; Chicago Opera Theater; Chicago Sinfonietta; the Dance Center of Columbia College; Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago; the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists; the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum; Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago; Music of the Baroque; the Old Town School of Folk Music; and Performing Arts Chicago.

Chicago Opera Theater closed out fiscal 1998 with a balanced budget, a $65,000 excess of income over expenses and total net assets of more than $160,000, according to general director Mark Tiarks. In an unrelated development, Tiarks is resigning Nov. 30 and moving to Colorado for personal reasons. The company will complete its Spring OperaFest, June 4 to 12 at the Athenaeum Theatre, with the world premiere of "There Is a Garden," a celebration of the music of Leonard Bernstein, created and directed by soprano Angelina Reaux.

By A digest of coming events, compiled by Robert McVea | July 27, 1997

The explosive life of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright will be the subject of the Chicago Opera Theater production "Shining Brow." The play chronicles the story of Wright's relationship with architect Louis Sullivan, his scandalous affair with the wife of a client and the events that occurred at Taliesin, their Wisconsin hideaway. Curtain times will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays. To order tickets, call 773-292-7578. ---------- Sunday, Thursday, Saturday and Aug. 3 at the Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive.

Tasty tea, treats and a medley of arias from the opera "The Magic Flute" will be on the menu when the Four Seasons Hotel hosts its last in a series of storytelling teas for kids Saturday. The Chicago Opera Theater will perform fun and interactive opera tunes while parents and children snack on petite sandwiches, cookies and other goodies. At 3 p.m. Saturday at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place. $25 per person. 312-649-2352.

While the planned donation and revival of the Harris and Selwyn Theaters is indeed good news, as a board member of another Chicago performing arts organization (Wisdom Bridge Theatre), I question the assumption that the theaters should be donated to Goodman Theatre. Goodman currently operates successfully downtown (on public land). There are, however, a number of performing arts organizations without adequate or permanent homes (e.g., Chicago Opera Theater, Chamber Music Chicago)

Charpentier's 'Medee' ('Medea'): Chicago Opera Theater unveils a French Baroque masterpiece, Marc-Antoine Charpentier's setting of the Medea myth, the second opera in its three-season trilogy of early works having the avenging sorceress as a central character. The show, with Christian Curnyn leading the Chicago period instruments ensemble Baroque Band, will be staged by James Darrah, with designs by Francois-Pierre Couture and Julian Pike. Opens 7:30 p.m. Saturday and runs through May 1 at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive; $30-$120; 312-704-8414, chicagooperatheater.org